Quick release safety closure



Sept; 29, 1970 I. F. MANCHESTER, JR 5 5 QUICK RELEASE SAFETY CLOSURE Filed March 6, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I. F. MANCHESTER, JR

QUICK' RELEASE SAFETY CLOSURE Sept. 29, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1968 United States Patent 3,530,549 QUICK RELEASE SAFETY CLOSURE Isaac F. Manchester, Jr., Shipyard Lane, South Dartmouth, Mass. 02748 Filed Mar. 6, 1968, Ser. No. 711,130 Int. Cl. A44b 19/36, 19/38 US. *Cl. 24-205 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A closure of the type having marginal connecting means adapted to be engaged and disengaged by a slider and which is capable of disengagement by other means herein described as the safety-quick release. The present closure is particularly adapted for embodiment in foul weather gear for sailors and others, and such other enveloping structures which lend themselves to the use of a safety closure quick release device. The present closure is capable of quick release from either end thereof to permit rapid shedding of the garment or other enveloping structure in the event of an emergency. The present closure includes fastening elements connected to flexible tapes adapted to be stitched to the marginal edges of a garment. The structure is characterized by leaving the ends of the tapes unattached to the garment for a short distance from each end. The structure is further characterized by elimination of the conventional pin and box structure for locking the closure at one end.

This invention relates to a quick release safety closure for garments or other fabric enveloping structures.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved closure or slide fastener for garments or other fabric enveloping articles having novel structure adapted to permit quick release of the closure and rapid shedding of the garment in the event of an emergency as a prime safety feature.

With this general object in view and such others as many hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the quick release slide fastener or garment closure as hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows a sailor wearing foul weather gear including a jacket and pants, each embodying the present quick release safety closures;

FIG. 2 shows a jacket having a quick release closure at the rear;

FIG. 3 shows a jacket having a quick release closure in the front;

FIG. 4 is a detail view in front elevation of the present quick release closure or slide fastener shown with the slider approaching a fully closed position;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the lower portion of the closure shown in FIG. 4 with the slider in its fully closed position;

FIG. 6 is a detail view similar to FIG. 4 showing the slider in its displaced and inoperative position and showing the marginal closure elements separated; and

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the upper end of the separated elements of the closure showing the slider in position to reunite the closure elements.

In general, the present invention contemplates a novel and improved quick release slide fastener for a garment or other covering and which is of particular advantage for use as a fastener or closure embodied in foul weather gear wherein the closure is provided with novel provision for effecting rapid disengagement of the slider and shedding of the garment in the event of an emergency.

In accordance with the present invention, the quick release feature permits displacement of the slider from a position in which it holds together the fastening elements along opposed marginal edges forming the closure for the garment to an inoperative position, such as to permit easy and rapid lateral separation of the closure. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the usual pin and box structure which prevents lateral separation at oneend of the closure is eliminated so as to permit lateral separation from either the top or bottom of the closure.

In the conventional closure of this type the starting or engaging end of the closure is provided with a pin and box structure, and in operation one leg of the slider is brought up into engagement with the box on the end of one tape and the pin on the end of the other tape is placed in the other leg of the slider and guided into the box whereupon the slider is moved to engage the teeth along the marginal edges of opposed tapes in the usual manner. It will be apparent that the provision of the pin and box structure effects locking of this end of the closure so that the ends of the tapes cannot be disengaged except by reversing the direction of the slider. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the teeth of the present closure comprise a thermoplastic material, such as nylon, and which are secured to fabric tapes, the tapes being stitched or otherwise secured to the marginal edges of the garment or other enveloping structure to be closed.

In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the usual pin and box structure, which is eliminated in the present closure, is replaced by a fixed stop adjacent the end of one tape and a pin structure adjacent the end of the opposing tape, the pin being formed by fusing together two or more adjacent thermoplastic teeth. This structure at the starting or engaging end of the closure permits engagement of the marginal edges of opposed tapes without locking the ends of the tapes together. In other words, the engaging ends of the tapes are free to be pulled apart by merely grasping the ends and applying a lateral pull in opposing directions. Thus, the present closure permits easy and rapid separation from either end thereof whereby to provide maximum safety in that rapid shedding of the garment or other enveloping structure is permitted in the event of an emergency, such as falling overboard; being endangered by fire; having a portion of the garment caught in running machinery; or in other hazardous situations wherein rapid shedding of the garment is desirable.

Novel provision is also made for preventing inadvertent separation of the closure at either end thereof. One end of the closure is defined herein as the quick release end wherein the slider in its closed position frictionally engages a temporary resilient stop by which the closure is normally maintained in its closed position. The other end of the closure may be defined as the engaging end wherein the slider may be positioned with respect to the stop and the pin to permit insertion of the pin into the slider to effect engagement of the teeth along opposed marginal edges upon movement of the slider.

In advertent separation of the engaging ends of the tapes is accomplished by leaving them unstitched for a distance of 1 /2 to 2" from the start of the engaged teeth of the closure. In practice such free and unattached ends of the fabric tapes are less subject to being separated inadvertently because the non-rigid or semirigid and freely movable engaged ends of the tapes offer little or no resistance one to the other when inadvertently struck by or engaged with a foreign object. Conversely, in a structure wherein the fabric tapes are stitched to the garment throughout their full length, a more rigid structure is provided whereby if one tape is engaged by a foreign object it would separate from the opposed tape because of the resistance offered by the rigid structure.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG.

1, the jacket 8 therein shown is provided with slide fasteners or closures 10 extending along the sides of the jacket from the skirt portion 12 to a point under the arm pits and then along the underside of the arm to the end of the sleeve portion 14. In practice, in the closed position of the slide fastener or closure 10 the slider, indicated at 16, is disposed adjacent the skirt portion 12, being spaced a short distance upwardly therefrom, and is capable of being moved downwardly to an inoperative position to free the ends of the opposed marginal interlocking fastening elements 19, 21 of the closure whereupon the tapes 18, to which the fastening elements are secured may be quickly separated by merely pulling them apart laterally in a manner analogous to a tearing action. When the tapes are thus separated along the sides, under the arms, and along the sleeves on both sides of the jacket it will be seen that the mans arms will be free of the jacket 8 and the hooded portion 22 of the jacket shown may then be easily lifted off the head to entirely shed the jacket. The structure at the sleeve end 14 omits the usual pin and box structure so that in practice the lateral separation of the fastening elements may also occur starting at the sleeve end.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the pants 24 of the foul weather gear are also shown as provided with quick release closures or slide fasteners 10 extending along the outer side seams 26 of both pant legs from a point 28 at the lower edge of each leg upwardly to the upper edge of the waist. In this embodiment of the invention the slider 16 is spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the waist when in its closed position and is capable of being pulled upwardly to an inoperative position to permit lateral pulling apart of the opposed cooperating fastening elements 19, 21 of the tapes 18, 20. It will be seen that when thus separated along the outer seams of both legs the pants will drop off to shed the entire garment. In this embodiment of the invention the structure is free of a pin and box locking device at the lower end of the closure so as to permit lateral separation of the marginal fastening elements from either or both ends.

In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the slide fastener or closure 10 occurs along the back of the hooded jacket 8 extending from the skirt portion 12 to a point terminating at 30 in the upper portion of the hood 22. In this embodiment of the invention, the slider 16 may also be pulled downwardly from its normal closed position to a lowered position whereby to free the lower ends of the tapes so as to permit pulling apart of the closure laterally without the use of the slider.

In practice, after the back portions are separated, it is an easy matter to free ones self from the sleeves, shoulder and hood portions to shed the garment. This embodiment likewise is free of locking means at the upper end 30 of the closure so that the lateral separation can be started at either or both ends.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the closure or slide fastener 10 extends along the front of the jacket from a point 32 in the skirt portion 12 to a point 34 adjacent the neck. In this embodiment also the slider 16 is disposed a short distance above the skirt in its normally closed position, and upon pulling the slider downwardly the lower edges of the closure are free to be pulled apart laterally whereupon the jacket is removed in the normal manner. The structure at the neck end of the closure is also free of locking means so as to permit lateral pulling apart of the closure from the upper end as well as from the released lower end of the closure.

While the above described embodiments of the invention define the quick release end as being at the top in one instance and as being at the bottom in another instance, it will be understood that these positions may be reversed in any of the illustrated embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the present slide fastener or closure 10 comprises opposing tapes 18, 20 having cooperating interlocking elements in the form of teeth 19, 21, respectively, along the adjacent marginal edges arranged to be engaged and disengaged by the slider 16. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the teeth 19, 21 comprise nylon or other thermoplastic material adapted to be molded and, as herein shown, the teeth 21 of the tape 20 terminate at a point spaced upwardly from the lower end thereof. A temporary stop 36 of molded nylon is provided at the end of the teeth. Below the temporary stop 36 the tape 20 is cut back or narrowed as indicated at 38. In practice, the temporary stop 36 may be formed by heating and fusing together two adjacent teeth in the tape 20 to provide a stop of a size such as to be frictionally and resiliently retained in the slider 16 when pulled down to its fully closed position as indicated in FIG. 5.

The teeth 19 of the opposing tape 18 extend a substantial distance downwardly beyond the teeth 21 and the lower end of the tape 18 is provided with a permanent stop 40. With this construction it will be seen that the slider 16 may be pulled downwardly from its fully closed position, as shown in FIG. 5, to a position beyond the stop 36 and in engagement with the permanent stop 40 as shown in FIG. 6. The ends of the tapes 18, 20 may now be pulled apart laterally to effect complete separation of the teeth.

As herein illustrated, the stitching indicated at which secures the tapes 18, 20 to the marginal edges of the garment 52 may start at a point 54 adjacent to or spaced a short distance upwardly from the temporary stop 36 on one tape 20, and may start at a similar point on the other tape 18. This leaves the unstitched ends of the tapes free of the garment so that after the slider has "been moved to its release position, the free ends may be manipulated to separate the closure.

The upper ends of the tapes 18, 20 are designated to eliminate the usual pin and box structure, and as herein shown, the tape 18 is provided with a permanent stop 42 at its upper end. The teeth 21 at the upper end of the tape 20 terminate at a point spaced from the upper end of the tape, and the latter is provided with a molded nylon pin 44. In practice, the pin 44 may be formed by heating and fusing together two adjacent thermoplastic teeth in the form of a pin. In order to reengage the teeth 19, 21, the slider 16 is first moved up to engage the permanent stop 42 as shown in FIG. 7. The teeth 19 extend through the leg 15 of the slider 16, and the pin 44 is inserted into the other leg 17 of the slider. Then by holding the upper ends of the tapes together and pulling the slider down, the teeth may be reengaged to close the slide fastener. With this construction at the upper end of the slide fastener, it will be seen that the tapes 18, 20 may be pulled apart laterally in a manner analogous to a tearing action by starting at the top of the closure, the lower end being easily freed for lateral disengagement by merely pulling the slider down beyond the resilient stop 36 in the manner defined.

As further illustrated in FIG. 4, the stitching at the upper or engaging end starts at a point indicated at 56 spaced about 1 /2" to 2" from the bottom of the pin 44 or the point at which the teeth 19, 21 are initially engaged. In practice, the marginally connected unstitched tapes at the engaging end of the closure provide a relatively nonrigid or semi-rigid structure. It will be apparent that with such non-rigid structure there is little probability that the tapes will become separated upon engagement with a foreign object since both tapes will move together in the absence of any force to pull them apart. Conversely, in the conventional structure Where the tapes are stitched to the garment throughout their entire length, any engagement of the ends of the rigid tapes with a foreign object would tend to separate the same. In the present closure wherein the tapes are provided with unstitched end portions, any lateral force applied at the start of the stitched portion will fail to effect separation of the tapes since the free ends must first be disengaged by applying a lateral pull or tearing action in opposite directions. Also, after separation of the tapes, the free unstitched ends thereof facilitate manipulation to effect rejoining the tapes by bringing the slider up against the permanent stop 42 and then inserting the molded pin 44 into the slider, whereupon the slider is moved down while holding the free ends of the tapes.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, each slider 16 may be provided with a thong or other convenient handle to facilitate movement of the slider to an inoperative position when required. Although the present quick release closure is designed particularly for rapid shedding of a garment under conditions of emergency, it is also contemplated that the present release structure may be employed as the usual manner of shedding any article of wearing apparel. Furthermore, the present closure may also be used with advantage for closing together the marginal edges of any fabric enveloping structure and may be broadly referred to as embodied in any article requiring a closure element of the character described.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A quick release safety closure of the character described comprising, in combination, a slide fastener including a pair of flexible cooperating tapes having opposed rows of interlocking fastening elements attached to opposing marginal edges of an article fastening elements attached to opposing marginal edges of an article and adapted to be opened and closed by a slide member, both ends of each tape being free of attachment to said marginal edges for a short distance, one tape "being free of fastening elements at each end for a short distance, one end of said closure having a quick release temporary locking device cooperating with said slide member and arranged to be manipulated to free the tapes and permit separation of the tapes by application of lateral forces in opposite directions, the other end of said closure being free of locking means and being also capable of separation by the application of lateral forces in opposite directions whereby both ends of the closure are capable of being quickly separated in the event of an emergency, said quick release device comprising a resilient plastic stop spaced from the end of a tape free of fastening elements for a short distance, said resilient stop permitting forcible movement of the slide member beyond the stop whereby to free the tapes and permit lateral separation thereof.

2. A quick release safety closure as defined in claim 1 wherein those portions of the closure free of attachment to the marginal edges of the article to be closed serve to prevent inadvertent separation of the tapes when struck by a foreign object.

3.--A quick release safety closure of the character described comprising, in combination, a slide fastener including a pair of tapes having opposed rows of plastic interlocking fastening elements, a slider engaging the interlocking elements to close and open the closure, said tapes attached to opposing marginal edges to be closed, both ends of each tape being free of attachment to said marginal edges for a short distance, one end of said closure having a quick release device for cooperation with said slider and arranged to be manipulated to free the tapes of said slider and permit separation of the interlocking elements by a tearing action, the other end of said closure comprising the engaging end 'being free of locking means and being also capable of separation by a tearing action whereby both ends of the closure are capable of being quickly separated in the event of an emergency, said quick release device comprising a resilient plastic stop spaced from one end of a tape, said resilient stop permitting forcible movement of the slider beyond the stop whereby to free the tapes and permit lateral separation thereof, said resilient plastic stop in cooperation with said slider comprising the sole locking means for the closure.

4. A quick release safety closure as defined in claim 3 wherein one of the tapes is provided with a permanent stop at each end including a stop at the engaging end against which the slider may be engaged preparatory to rejoining the tapes, and a permanent stop at said quick release end against which the slider is engaged upon movement of the same beyond said resilient stop.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,340,187 5/ 1920 Sundback 24205 2,632,933 3/1953 Firing 24205.11 2,830,349 4/1958 Amburg 24-20511 3,289,264 12/1966 Doelter 24205.11 3,340,579 9/1967 Tamura 2420S FOREIGN PATENTS 150,048 2/1953 Australia. 1,059,424 3/ 1954 France.

BERNARD A. G'ELAK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 24205.11, 205.16 

